Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The European Union assembly’s political establishment is pushing through changes that will silence dissidents by changing the rules allowing Euro-MPs to form political groupings. Richard Corbett, a British Labour MEP, is leading the charge to cut the number of party political tendencies in the Parliament next year, a move that would dissolve UKIP’s pan-European Eurosceptic “Independence and Democracy” grouping.

Under the rule change, the largest and most pro-EU groups would tighten their grip on the Parliament’s political agenda and keep control of lavish funding.

The proposals to change the sizes for the numbers needed for a group have already been rejected once in committee but Richard Corbett is nothing if not anti democratic and persistent and so submitted the same amendments again. UKIP managed to ensure that we had members in committee to vote against it but when it is put forward in plenary the EPP and the Socialists will hold the balance and it will probably be passed.

There are also proposals for the president to have to approve the questions from MEPs which go to the Council and the Commission and for there to be a maximum of 3 a month from each MEP.

Words failed me when I read this: that a man unelected by the British people should have the right to decide what questions British MEPs can ask is preposterous. It cries of dictatorships, actually. Once again, when this goes to plenary the big groups will have the power to decide on the fate of other MEPs. It was through written questions and the failure of the Commission to answer them that Nigel Farage got enough support for a motion of censure on the Commission President.

This is nothing more than censureship by the socialist pro Europeans to stem the tide of skeptics and the withdrawalist movement.

Richard Corbett made it perfectly clear that the only group who would be affected would be the Ind Dem group, lead by his bete noir and containing the group he hates so much. Hence his dedication to UKIPwatch, purveyors of lies about UKIP since 2004.

Remember when you come to vote in the euro elections next year what these people are like and how they are even trying to demolish democracy to get their way.

And the people of Ireland remember: you are our big chance to stop this Treaty. They are lying to you and saying that you will be alone, but you will have more friends than you could imagine. They might not be Communist friends who hate you and just want your money, but they would be ones who valued your opinion.

Because let us not forget: that in the plenary session MEPs voted to reject respecting the results of the Irish vote. In the same committee, Corbett's chum Jo Leinen wants the parliament to keep the same powers over national law and the courts as it would have had in the Treaty. Even if the treaty is not accepted.

Anyone who thinks the EU is a good idea has a very skewed view of democracy.UPDATE:England Expects tells us how badly behaved they were from a first hand view...